The streets of Skagway.

• Author: Woodring, Jeannie
• Position: Skagway, Alaska

Stepping back in time is not a cliche but a solid reality when you stroll down the streets of Skagway.

As the American gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway boomed with prosperity almost 100 years ago. Today, especially in summer when more than 400,000 cruise ship passengers wander down its thoroughfares, the town once again bustles with the history that made it a gold-rush legend.

One of the few southeast Alaska towns that is accessible by road, state ferry or airplane, Skagway is easy to reach. In fact, it's little more than a long (17-hour) day drive from Anchorage. If you've only got 24 hours for a visit, you can take in most of the town's main attractions. Since the central part of Skagway is barely four blocks wide and 20 blocks long, most of your sightseeing can be done by foot.

Plan on spending at least half a day aboard the famous White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&YR) railroad. Twice a day, from late May to mid-September, the WP&YR makes round trips up and down the rugged 2,900-foot White Pass summit, following the footsteps of Klondike stampeders.

From the train windows, you glimpse thundering waterfalls, sheer rock cliffs and the amazing engineering twists and turns of the railroad. On board, you're likely to hear adventurous stories of the WP&YR's past from history buffs. For fares and departure times, call the WP&YR office at (800) 343-7373.

On your remaining half day in Skagway, pay a visit to the Skagway Historical Museum & Archives (907-983-2420). Also known as the "Trail of '98 Museum," the facility occupies the second floor of city hall, at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Spring Street. Here, you can ogle Alaska's finest collection of gold rush artifacts, marvel at the craftsmanship of Alaska Native artworks and reminisce at the collection of Victorian memorabilia and fine furnishings.

Other historical sites that deserve your attention in downtown Skagway include the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center (907-983-2921), at the corner of Second and Broadway, and the Skagway Arctic Brotherhood (A.B.) Hall, on Broadway between Second and Third Streets. Considered the most-photographed building in town (if not Alaska), the A.B. Hall's front face holds over 20,000 pieces of driftwood.

In the front half of...